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Another large development in Douglas County is headed for the courthouse steps.
According to a June 21 notice of trustee's sale, eight parcels owned by Clear Creek Ranch LLC II and one parcel owned by Clear Creek Ranch LLC are scheduled to be publicly auctioned off at 10 a.m. July 19 on the front steps of the old courthouse in Minden.
The estimated amount still owed under a 2006 deed of trust is nearly $17 million, the notice states.
According to the Douglas County Assessor's website, the subject parcels total 568.63 acres.
The massive development, under its current form, was first approved by Douglas County commissioners in November 2003. The 1,576-acre property spans the northern line of Douglas County through scenic forest and meadows along Highway 50. Development plans include 384 residences, a golf course, clubhouse, 853 acres of permanent open space, as well as an underpass to the subdivision that was completed in 2007.
The project has been the subject of ongoing controversy since its approval eight years ago.
In December 2003, property owners in Alpine View Estates filed a lawsuit against Douglas County and the board of county commissioners to block development of Clear Creek, charging the development was approved without a board majority. The lawsuit also argued the board didn't follow the county's master plan guidelines.
In May 2004, Douglas County District Court Judge Dave Gamble ordered development plans be sent back to the county for review. After county commissioners once again approved the project in June of that year, Gamble denied the development, ruling commissioners abused their discretion and acted arbitrarily when amending the master plan.
Clear Creek LLC quickly appealed Gamble's decision to the Nevada Supreme Court, joined by Douglas County in the appeal. Settlement negotiations began late in 2004, but fell through in by the early spring 2005.
In 2006, the Nevada Supreme Court finally ruled that the residential subdivision could move forward. Not long after, economic recession began reversing years of growth and demand in the region.
Last year, before the Board of Equalization, Clear Creek developers sought and obtained a reduction in land value, arguing costs to develop were estimated to be much higher than finished value.
“In the current economic climate there is a very limited chance of getting financing or bonding to do the improvements,” Syncon Homes' Andrew Mitchell wrote in the request. “We're requesting that the property be reverted back to ag until we're able to develop.”
Eight parcels totaling 530 acres, which had been approved for 163 cottage homes and 221 lots, saw a decrease in value in 2010 from $11.65 million to $5.15 million.
The 191-acre Clear Creek Golf Course was valued at $1.74 million last year.